TAMPA, Fla — Tampa city leaders approved moving forward with the $2 billion stadium plan for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tampa City Council approved the plan with a 4-3 vote.
WATCH: Tampa City council approves new Rays stadium
Tampa City Council members Charlie Miranda, Guido Maniscalco and Lynn Hurtak voted no to funding the stadium.
"We were elected to solve problems not create new ones like those which will result from us having to borrow money at the worst possible time interest rate wise," said Council member Hurtak.
Chief Executive Officer of the Tampa Bay Rays said council's decision is a really important step forward.
“Today’s affirmative vote by the Tampa City Council is incredible news for the entire Tampa Bay community. The Tampa Bay Rays are grateful for the leadership and support of the City Council members to approve an investment that, when accompanied by the private funding guaranteed by the Rays, will secure the future of Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay while creating a landmark destination neighborhood that will serve our region for generations. We look forward to tomorrow’s Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners meeting and the opportunity to continue advancing a project that will deliver lasting benefits for the Tampa Bay region,” The Tampa Bay Rays said in a statement after the vote.
Under the deal, the city approved an $80 million loan. The Rays agreed to cover an additional $100 million that the city was originally responsible for.
The Hillsborough County Commission is set to vote on Friday on its end of the deal which is a nearly $800 million contribution.
The stadium would be located on the Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus. The college released renderings of the facility enhancements this week.
President Dr. Ken Atwater said the college has tremendous facility needs.
"You heard me talk about three buckets with the city council, facility improvement, the partnership and relationship with the Rays for jobs and improve workforce training opportunity that means student success and we're all about getting people jobs," said Dr. Atwater.
Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan has been part of the negotiations alongside city and Rays leaders.
"Whenever we go out and recruit companies to come to Tampa and Hillsborough County, they look at the sports, they look at the arts, they look at our schools, our housing, our employment base, and so if we were to lose, Major League Baseball, that would be an enormous black eye on our community," Hagan said.
"I want to thank our City Council members who voted today to move this transformational project forward. They recognized an extraordinary opportunity to secure the Rays' future in Tampa and advance a development that will create jobs, spur investment, and deliver lasting benefits for our community,”said Mayor Jane Castor after the City Council vote Thursday.
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